E4 Udderbelly returns to Southbank
E4 Udderbelly at Southbank Centre is back for its second year to graze on the banks of the Thames this summer from 13th May to 18th July 2010. In partnership with Southbank Centre, the hugely popular, giant inflatable 410-capacity cow, which established itself as one of the Edinburgh Festival’s most exciting and unique venues in 2006, will return this year with an even bigger and better lineup, nestled comfortably between the famous London Eye and Royal Festival Hall.
Dubbed one of the best programmes of live entertainment in London last year, over 100,000 visitors flocked to the purple cow to see top acts including Joan Rivers, Reginald D Hunter, Tom Tom Crew and Rhona Cameron. This year’s programme is even bigger and better. Highlights include rare appearances by Alexei Sayle, Sandi Toksvig, Ben Fogle and Irish legend Tommy Tiernan. US comedians Michael Winslow (Sergeant Jones from the Police Academy films) and Rob Schneider, Ardal O Hanlon, Arthur Smith and Milton Jones are all set to perform in Udderbelly’s comedy programme alongside Andrew Lawrence, David O’Doherty, Gina Yashere and Dan Clark. Some of the hottest new acts include Tom Wrigglesworth, Pete Johansson, Carl Donnelly and Jack Whitehall (all Edinburgh Comedy Award nominees 2009).
The headline show is the fantastic Brazil! Brazil!, which opens on 15th June. In World Cup Year, and part of Southbank Centre’s Festival Brazil, sponsored by HSBC, this is 70 minutes of capoeira, street football, acrobatics and live music to entertain all ages. There’s circus from Controlled Falling Project, beat-boxing from Beardyman and Shlomo (BOXED) and cabaret from rising stars Frisky & Mannish. There are over 60 shows to choose from with family shows to suit all ages (including Stick Man by Julia Donaldson, the author of the Gruffalo) and almost all tickets are £20 and under.
But it’s not just the shows this year that will attract thousands of visitors; the Pasture around the Cow is a great place to relax with a jug of Pimms, an ice-cold beer, or a glass of wine and enjoy London’s South Bank. There will be Giant Connect 4 or Jenga games and a selection of the Wimbledon and World Cup matches will be screened live in the Pasture outside the Cow. No wonder that last year it proved to be one of London’s coolest spots to meet friends.
Find out the full listing at the UnderBelly website.
